INTRODUCTION. 
This bulletin has been written for the purpose of creating among the 
teachers and school children of our State a greater interest and a deeper 
love for Vermont birds. 
The species described are representative birds of the State, birds 
which undoubtedly occur, with few exceptions, in the majority of the 
towns of Vermont at some period, long or short, during the year. Ihe 
descriptions given do not go into scientific details, but are intended to be 
ample enough to serve for the ordinary purposes of identification. It is 
hoped that the illustration also will aid materially to this end. The 
dates of arrival from the South will give one an idea zvhen to expect and 
look for each species. The favorite haunts tell where the bird may be 
found The field marks explain how the bird may be identified at 
a glance The description of the song or note is for the pur- 
pose of aiding in identification, especially when the bird cannot be 
seen The biographies emphasize the usefulness or the economic value 
o^ birds a subject about which altogether too little is known at the present 
time by people in general. When the value of birds is once realized and 
fully understood, it will necessarily lead to a greater effort for the pro- 
tection of birds in Vermont. 
The Economic Value of BiRDS.-Birds are of inestimable 
value to man. They live upon harmful insects, their eggs and larvae, the 
seed of noxious weeds, and small animals which injure the crops. It is 
estimated upon expert authority that insects cause the annual loss of over 
two hundred million dollars to the agricultural interests of the United 
States. As insects are enemies of vegetation, so are birds the enemies 
of insects. It is a well known fact that when birds decrease, insects m- 
crease. Since birds check the undue increase of insects, just imagine 
what would happen if all the birds of our land were destroyed. Birds de- 
stroy an enormous amount of weed-seeds, which if allowed to germinate 
would cause a heavy loss to the farmers. There are many birds which 
live almost entirely throughout the larger part of the year upon these 
seeds. . 
As a rule farmers consider all hawks and owls their enemies. Dr. 
Fisher, assistant ornithologist, U. S. Department of Agriculture, has 
made an exhaustive study of these two families of birds. From Ins re- 
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